There's no point in putting the combustion engine on the shelf. At least not at BMW. Not even if the EU bans the technology in 2035.
BMW now confirms that the brand will continue to build gasoline and diesel engines after 2035. Production will take place in Austria and England.
The EU's ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2035 has led many European car manufacturers to focus on electric cars. BMW is no exception. And the Germans have increased the production of electric cars significantly.
Yet BMW maintains that they will continue to develop combustion engines without setting an end date or any phase-out on the technology.
"We will continue to invest in and develop gasoline, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines," says development manager Frank Weber in an interview with the German newspaper Focus .
BMW's decision to continue with combustion engines is due, among other things, to uncertainty in the electric car market.
– The uncertainty surrounding financing programs (government support, ed.) also contributes to this dilemma, which complicates product planning for the individual automaker.
– That's why it's so important for BMW to invest in flexibility when it comes to drivelines, explains Frank Weber.
BMW emphasizes that the brand's sales are global and that the EU ban does not apply to all of its customers.
– Especially because it's not just about new, stricter emission limits in Europe. It's a global process, says Frank Weber.
However, BMW has no intention of downgrading electric cars. On the contrary, BMW's sales of electric cars increased by 75 percent over the course of 2023. And last year, the brand confirmed that it is working with Toyota on a new hydrogen car.
The tough competition from Tesla and Chinese car manufacturers like BYD is not a concern in the office corridors in Munich.
– We are the market leader in premium electric cars, says Frank Weber.
– As for Tesla and the Chinese, we see the prices of the electric cars they sell. And we understand that this is not a sustainable practice. We have not entered this price war and we do not want to.
